Attitude Survey Documents Bear Bile Consumption in Ha Noi
(Link to the full report - pdf file)
November 15, 2005
Vietnam is home to two species of bears, the Asiatic black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus) and the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus). Bear populations in the wild are seriously threatened by hunting and trade aimed at meeting the demand from wildlife specialty restaurants and markets for meat and bear products. Moreover, most bears today are hunted and trapped live, spending the remainder of their lives confined to cages where they are exploited for their bile. Bear bile is used as a form of traditional medicine and is believed by many consumers to help remedy a variety of ailments, as well as consumed in restaurants and other social venues for general health reasons. According to government figures, more than 4,000 bears are maintained in captivity in Vietnam.
In June and July of 2004, Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV) carried out a survey to assess the current attitudes towards the use of bear bile amongst consumers in Hanoi. A total of 1,814 people were surveyed in seven districts. The survey results suggest that:
- 30% of Hanoi residents are consumers of bear bile.
- Males dominate bear bile users (37% of all males surveyed) compared with females (23% of all females surveyed).
- People under the age of 25 represented a smaller proportion of users than their elder peers.
- Most bear bile consumers would be willing to use alternatives to bear bile if these were either more effective or cheaper.
The results of the survey will be used to help design awareness raising activities aimed at influencing public attitudes and reducing demand for bear bile.
The results of the survey have been compiled in a report, Public Attitudes Towards the Use of Bear Bile in Vietnam (English version). Limited copies of the report are available in printed or electronic format by request.
For more information, please contact:
Nguyen Phuong Dung
Communications Officer
Tel. + 84 4 7753685
Email: communication.env@fpt.vn
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